By Kalee Roberts, VSBA President
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I want to say what an honor it is
to have become the President of the VSBA Board of Directors. Working in
association with the amazing and talented staff members of VSBA (and VSA and
VPA) as well as the VSBA board and board members across Vermont and the nation
offers me a continuous stream of learning and professional development
opportunities which I hope makes me a better board member and, more
importantly, a better person.
For the board members who shared
our recent Annual Meeting experience you (and I) were spared a traditional
acceptance speech. However, I spent a
great deal of time wondering what insights I could share if called upon to
speak. These thoughts came to me to as a disjointed set of ideas that I bring
to my board work as principles which give me strength and trust make me a good
board member. I often think of these in
terms of famous quotes or truisms from my life and will share them even if they
seem a bit corny or pat.
“With great power comes great
responsibility” – Uncle Ben of Spiderman.
Board members need to remember that as elected officials we often
have a great deal of power and we must try to exercise that power in a
responsible manner.
“Figures don’t lie, but liars
figure” – Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain
Insist on using real data in decision making. If it’s not available, postpone the
decision. If a decision feels emotional
it probably is, and may feel good (or bad), but usually won’t help you make
progress toward a measurable goal.
“Trust but verify” – Ronald
Reagan
It is not insulting or offensive to ask for proof, which is our
oversight role and responsibility.
“Time is on my side” – The
Rolling Stones (and many others)
Time is one commodity that boards generally do control. If something needs to happen (and is worth
doing) it can be done, or at least begun, and putting something off until later
increases the probability that it will not be done, or perhaps ever started.
“Don’t let education get in the
way of your learning” - Mark Twain
Never let the process out weigh the end goal.
And finally -
“Question Authority” – unattributed
bumper sticker/graffiti
The origin of the phrase is murky, although some attribute the
first use to Benjamin Franklin postulating on good citizenship. I urge you to keep this close at hand; there
are no experts in education authority (if there were we would all be out of a
job along with literally hundred of thousands of other education
authorities). Remember to always
question authority, but keep in mind you are the self same authority you also
need to question.
This motley assortment of
concepts may give you some new ways of thinking about the tasks you perform as
board members, and I encourage you to share these and your personal ideas and
principles with others as you work together for Vermont’s excellent
schools. Happy fall.
Kalee Roberts is serving her first year as VSBA President.